u-blox introduces miniature Untethered Dead Reckoning receiver

EVA-M8E positioning component is aimed at small-sized vehicle trackers to provide untethered dead-reckoning performance without any electrical connection to the vehicle

u-blox, the provider of wireless and positioning modules and chips, has announced the availability of its miniature Untethered Dead Reckoning (UDR) receiver EVA-M8E.

Measuring 7 mm x 7 mm, the EVA-M8E is a positioning component for small-sized vehicle trackers. It provides untethered dead-reckoning performance without any electrical connection to the vehicle, using low cost inertial sensors.

The EVA-M8E offers continuous positioning even before GNSS signals have been received, improves accuracy when GNSS signals are weak, and enables continuous low-latency positioning at 20 Hz to track highly dynamic events, according to the company.

It also enables maximum flexibility in end-product design, requiring only a direct connection with the MEMS inertial sensor and SQI Flash memory. It adapts automatically to installations anywhere within a vehicle.

It supports very low stand-by current consumption. UDR with adaptive signal strength compensation helps reduce the effects of small antenna and poor installations. This technology makes the EVA-M8E ideal for extremely small after-market road-vehicle applications such as usage-based insurance and theft alarms, u-blox said.

Along with all u-blox M8 receivers, the EVA-M8E supports GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS and SBAS constellations. It further provides superior positioning accuracy in urban canyons, tunnels, and parking garages.

"The EVA-M8E enables innovative products and services for high volume after-market telematics," says Andrew Miles, product manager Dead Reckoning at u-blox. "It also complements the main highlight of the NEO-M8U UDR module, which is ease-of-use."

The C93-M8E enables immediate evaluation of the u-blox's Untethered Dead Reckoning technology in most vehicle applications.

EVA-M8E samples and the C93-M8E are available now. The modules will be in full production in Q4 2016.